Cotton-press



"( M 0 7 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- W. W. MGALPINE.

COTTON PRESS.

Patented 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on a plane UNITED STATES PATEN'I Urrrcn.

WILLIAM WATSON MQALPINE, OF BOLIGEE, ALABAMA.

COTTON-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 413,082, dated October 15, 1889.

Application filed July 25, 1888.-

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM WATSON Md ALPINE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boligee, in the county of Greene and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cotton-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in cotton-presses; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices, that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a cotton-press embodying my improvements. 7 Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, taken on the linear or of Fig. 4. Fig.

at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line to w of Fig. 1. s

A represents a baseframe or platform, on the center of which is arranged a transverse beam B. From the said beam, at a suitable distance from its ends, project a pair of vertical beams O, to the upper ends of which are secured a pair of parallel horizontal beams D.

E represents a pair of inclined brace-beams, which connect the outer ends of the beam B with the outer ends of the beams D.

From the four corners of the platform or base-frame extend standards F, which are inclined toward each other in pairs at their up per ends, and are connected together in pairs at their upper ends by transverse plates G.

H represents a rectangular frame, which is supported by the standards F at a suitable distance from the upper ends thereof. Arranged in the center of the said frame and extending transversely across the same is a beam 1.

K represents a pair of longitudinal guidebeams, which are arranged in the center of the frame H and ata suit-able distance apart, and L represents an inclined guideway,which connects one of the said beams K with the proximate side of the frame A, the said guideway being arranged parallel with and in proximity'to the cross-beam 1.

Connecting the centers of the plates G is a longitudinal horizontal beam M.

N represents a beam. which is parallel. with Serial No. 281,019. (No model.)

the beam M, and connects the ends of the plates G.

O P represent hori'Zontal beams, which c0nnect the standards F in pairs, and which are arranged in different horizontal planes, the beams 0 being some distance above the beams P, and the latter being recessed on their un der sides at their centers, so as to enable them to fit over the ends of the beams D.

R represents a beam which connects the beams P near their centers, and S represents a similar beam, which is arranged directly over the beam R and connects the beams 0. Vertical standards or blocks T are secured between the beams R and S, there being three of the said standards, and between said standards and on the same shaft are pulleys The standards F are further connected in pairs by horizontal beams W, which are parallel with the beams S. Inclined braces X extend from the centers of the beams W to the standards F, and vertical braces Y c011- nect the centers of the beams W with the centers of the beams I-I.

Z represents a follower, which is guided between the vertical standards O by having its ends recessed to receive the inner sides of the said standards.

A represents a pair of rocking arms or levers, which have their lower ends fulcrumed between the pair of beams D on the inner side of the standards C, said levers being cam-shaped at their lower ends, as at B. C represents links which connect the said camshaped ends to the follower Z, near the center of the latter, and thereby adapt the said follower to be raised and lowered when the upper ends of the levers A are moved toward and from each other, as will be readily understood. Said levers A have their upper ends extending between and guided by the guide-beams K.

D represents a pair of rocking arms, which have their lower ends pivoted on opposite sides of the cross beam I, and between the upper ends of the said rocking arms is fulcrumed a pair of parallel levers E. If pre ferred, only one of the said levers of suitable width may be employed, instead. of two, as here shown. The ends of the levers E en gage-guideways F, which are secured to the right and left hand screw-threads.

beams H and to the beams M and N, as shown.

In the upper end of the rocking levers A are mounted transverse blocks G.

H represents a screw-shaft, which has its central portion journaled in the lever E, and which is provided on its opposite ends with Said screwshaft extends through and engages the blocks G..

1 represents a spur-wheel, which is rigidly secured to the center of the screwshaft and is arranged in the space between the levers E. A shaft K is arranged parallel with the screwshaft and journaled in the said levers, and provided with a rigid pinion L, which engages the wheel I, and is further provided with a spur-wheel M. N. represents a similar shaft, which is journaled in the lever E, and which has one end projecting beyond one of the said levers and provided with a pulley 0. To that portion of the said shaft which is between the levers E is keyed a pinion P, which engages the wheel M.

R represents an endless belt, which connects the pulleyV and the pulley O, and said belt is further engaged by sheaves S, which are journaled in a slide T, arranged in the guideway L. A cord U is attached to the outer end of the said slide and passes over a suitable guiding-sheave V, and to the pendent end of said cord is secured a weight W the function of which is to draw the slide downward on the guide L, so as to cause said slide to always keep the endless belt R tight between the pulleys V and O. The levers E are provided at one end with a weight X, which counterbalances the screw-shaft, so as to enable the said levers to turn 011 their fulcrums very easily and with the minimum expenditure of power.

The operation of my invention is as follows: A suitable drivingbelt from an engine or other motor passes over the pulley Uand imparts rotation to the same and to the pulley V. The latter by means of the endless belt R and the pulley O communicates motion to the gears which are journ'aled in the levers E, and consequently rotates the screw-shaft, so as to cause the same to move the outer ends of the rocking arms or levers A toward or from each other, according to the direction in which the, screw-shaft is rotated, and thereby cause the follower to be raised or lowered, as will be readily understood. As the upper ends of the armsA recede from each other, that portion of the lever E in which the screw-shaft is journaled is lowered, and the reverse movement ensues when the screwshaft is turned so as to cause the upper end of the arms or levers A to approach each other. The weighted slide having the rollers which engage the endless belt R serves to keep the tension of the said belt on the pulleys V and 0, so as to cause the former to transmit rotary motion to the latter at all times, as before stated.

A press thus constructed is exceedingly powerful, is very strong and durable, and can be operated at a comparatively slight expense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination, with the press-frame, of the follower, the levers A, connected thereto, the rocking arms D, and levers E, the right and left hand screw shaft journaled in and supported by the levers E and engaging blocks mounted on the levers A, and gears to rotate the said screwshaft, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the press-frame, of the follower, the levers A, connected thereto, the rocking arms D and counterbalanced levers E, the right and left hand screwshaft journaled in the levers E and engaging blocks mounted on the levers A, spurwheel I on said shaft, the shaft K,journaled in the levers E, having pinion L and spurwheel M, the shaft N, having gear P and pulley O, the counter-shaft having pulley V,

. and the endless belt connecting said pulleys,

substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the press-frame, of the follower, the levers A, connected thereto, the rocking arms D and levers E, the right and left hand screw-shaft journaled in levers E and engaging blocks mounted on the levers A, the spur-wheel I on said shaft,

the shaft K, journaled in the levers E, having pinion L and spur-Wheel M, the shaft N, having gear P and the pulley O, the counter-shaft having the pulley V, the endless belt connecting pulleys V and O, and the weighted slide bearing on said belt, for the purpose set forth, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signaturein pres ence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM l/VATSON MOALPINE. Witnesses:

J. W. PERRY,

W. L. \VATSON. 

